Epic Games has released a Preview of its rebuilt Epic Games Launcher. In addition to Windows and macOS, it supports Linux for the first time, and it puts startup speed and easier game discovery front and center. Epic's speed comparison with Steam is eye-catching, but the amount of waiting time saved differs between a first launch and returning to an app already running in the background. Installing the Preview also automatically removes the existing launcher, and on Mac there are CPU requirements. To decide whether to try it, you need to look at the speed figures together with the features available after you switch.
How Big Is the Gap with Steam on First Launch vs. Returning to the App?
The official Preview site shows that, when launched from a closed state (a first launch), the new launcher takes 5.47 seconds versus 10.07 seconds for Steam. This is the comparison behind Epic's "1.8x faster than Steam" claim. Meanwhile, returning to the library from the background takes 0.36 seconds on the new launcher versus 0.42 seconds on Steam.
Calculated from the October 2026 measurements Epic published, the gap with Steam is 4.60 seconds for a first launch and 0.06 seconds for returning to the library from the background.
| Operation measured | New Epic Games Launcher | Steam | Difference calculated from published figures |
|---|---|---|---|
| First launch | 5.47 seconds | 10.07 seconds | 4.60 seconds |
| Returning to the library from the background | 0.36 seconds | 0.42 seconds | 0.06 seconds |
The difference for each operation is Steam's value minus the new launcher's value: 10.07 − 5.47 = 4.60 seconds, and 0.42 − 0.36 = 0.06 seconds. Even under the same label of "faster," separating the several seconds saved when first opening the app from the small gap when returning to an already-running one makes it easier to see which waiting time actually changes. These are measurements of the launcher's own display, not figures for game startup time or frame rates.
The measurements were carried out by Keywords Studios, a third party commissioned by Epic. A footnote on the official page states that the results are averages of five tests on each of 13 machines in October 2026, excluding the three lowest-performing of the machines tested. The page does not show each machine's configuration, the variation in results, or the number of games in the accounts used. The figures can't be taken as a guarantee that low-spec PCs will see the same speedup, and Epic itself says results vary by environment.
What can be confirmed here, then, is the per-operation gap under the conditions Epic published. The subtraction can be reproduced, but whether you'll see the same gap on your own hardware needs to be verified separately. Which operation is closer to your usage also depends on whether you normally quit the launcher or leave it running in the background.
Browsing, Launching, and Tracking Downloads in One Place
The new library includes a dedicated page for each game that gathers its status and launch controls. Add-ons and activity history can also be checked there, a layout meant to make the information you need after selecting a game easier to find. The official announcement also notes that you can connect your PC game libraries and view the games you own together within the launcher.
You can also choose how the list is displayed. You can switch between a detail view, with games listed on the left and the selected game's page on the right, and a grid view that lays games out as images. Search-as-you-type and filtering are supported as well. You can organize games into collections or hide titles you don't play, and hidden titles can be restored later. The changes are aimed at reducing the effort of choosing from a large library.
The top bar also lets you add your favorite games and apps. For users who would rather jump straight back into a particular game than open the store, being able to place the items they use is significant. Improvements that speed up app loading and improvements that cut down the steps to reach what you want are built into the same screen.
In download management, the launcher shows read and write speeds for data in addition to network download speed. Beyond active tasks, you can also check queued and scheduled downloads, and the status of failed tasks can be tracked. Because network activity and processing on the storage side can be viewed separately, you get more clues for judging progress.
However, being able to display speeds in detail is not in itself a measured result showing that transfers got faster. The value of the new screens lies in making it easier to see what is progressing while you wait for a game. The shorter launcher startup time and the clearer view of download status should be evaluated separately.
Before You Switch: Removal of the Old Version and Supported Environments
When you install the Preview, the existing Epic Games Launcher is uninstalled automatically. If you try it expecting to run the old and new versions side by side, it won't behave as you expect. On the other hand, Epic explains that purchased and installed games carry over, and that cloud saves and progress continue.
This explanation about data carrying over should be kept separate from whether every feature of the previous version is present. According to the FAQ, some social features and account management items are not yet available, and work to bring over the full feature set is ongoing. Whether an item you use daily is missing is a separate consideration for migration, apart from speed.
Supported environments also differ. Listing the requirements on the official site by OS gives the following.
| OS | Supported versions | CPU | Free storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows | Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit | Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 | 700 MB |
| macOS | macOS 12 Monterey or later | Apple M1 or later | 200 MB |
| Linux | Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or later, Fedora 43 or later, Debian 12 or later | x86-64, 2 GHz dual-core or better | 2 GB |
Memory is 4 GB for each OS, and an internet connection is required for setup and online features. The Mac CPU requirement deserves particular attention. The Preview targets Apple Silicon only and does not support Intel Macs. Even if your OS version meets the requirement, depending on the CPU you may not be able to switch.
Regarding game use, the current FAQ says Epic explains that nothing should interfere with casual or competitive play once you are in a game. The updated note in the official announcement likewise says use within games and development tools is not hindered, while leaving open the possibility of problems because the Preview is a beta. This should be read as an explanation for trying an unfinished launcher, not a guarantee that it works in every environment. If you run into bugs or items that don't carry over, you can report them through "Send feedback" in the app.
The Linux Launcher and Game-by-Game Requirements
With the arrival of the Linux version, Epic's own launcher can now run directly on Linux. However, the official FAQ states plainly that many games are Windows builds and may require a compatibility layer to run. The launcher's list of supported operating systems can't be used as-is as a list of supported games.
For distributions other than Ubuntu, Fedora, and Debian, it may work, but they are not officially tested or supported. Rather than judging by the shared name "Linux," you need to check both the distribution you use and the games you want to play. Offline use is also limited to installed games that support it.
Linux support for Fortnite is progressing differently from the launcher released now. Epic plans to rebuild its anti-cheat, Easy Anti-Cheat, settle security requirements with distribution maintainers, and offer support once arrangements are in place with enough of them. The release of a Linux launcher does not mean that plan has been realized.
The official announcement we checked does not give a release date for the final version of the new launcher. For now, the factors to weigh are whether the launcher makes it easier to find the games you want in your own library, whether the features you need are available, and whether those games run in your environment. If the speed gains and these conditions line up, the several seconds saved shown in the Preview can translate into a launcher that is easier to use for everyday game management.